Talk about recordings and Snider quickly remembers, “The label told me to mention that I have another record coming out. It is eleven tracks. It was produced by Don Was. Jim Keltner plays drums on it.”

And as quickly as the business angle makes its way into the conversation, it makes its exit, Snider wandering off again.

Willie Nelson was among the musicians who helped close down the Backyard in Bee Cave last night; it was his 31st performance at the venue. The development of retail shops in 2006 created problems for the once secluded Backyard by taking away land that was used for parking.

“We sent it to him,” Kristian explained, figuring “if the song pisses him off, let’s not put it on the album. We are bigger fans than we are insistent songwriters. The response we got was that Steve doesn’t read anything — reviews, anything at all — about himself, so why would he listen to a song that has been written about him? We thought, ‘Genius! We love him even more.’ But his manager explained to him what we were trying to do. We were told he laughed. That, in itself, is a triumph.”

When the country singer reached the mound to deliver the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 — with kids from the Nicetown Boys & Girls Club — he brought his famous father with him.

From his pocket, McGraw retrieved some of his father’s ashes and sprinkled them on the mound. Tug McGraw, who delivered the final pitch of the 1980 World Series, would’ve loved it.

According to court filings, Lorrie Morgan has filed for bankruptcy for primarily business related debts. “It’s very important to me that my fans and business associates understand that I’m OK,” she said. “Today’s economic times have affected many American families and businesses. I, along with many of you, am not immune to this fact.”

Lambert took the stage ready to rock with her single “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” but left a little to be desired as she continued on with songs like “Guilty in Here” and her first hit “Me and Charlie Talkin.” Though the performance was rock solid — – her head-banging skills rival the female vixens in just about any ’80s hair band video — – her ability to connect with the crowd paled a bit in comparison with her easy-talking boyfriend.

“But I just don’t need outside production anymore. I am my niche, I created my niche, I created my world. When I come on singing it doesn’t have to be some grand production. It’s all me now. I’ve got my fingerprints all over it.”

Jett Williams, the daughter of Hank Williams, recently joined Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon to talk about the acquisition of her father’s previously unreleased recordings from the Mother’s Best Flour radio program. The first batch of recordings will be released tomorrow, but for now, head over to NPR to listen to recordings of “Cool Water,” “Wait For The Light to Shine” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

9 Comments

I remember reading that Sugarland stuff in July before the album, I guess gac sits on quotes until there’s a news shortage.

Also, the songwriter’s hall of fame recap link doesn’t work, FYI.

Thomas
October 27, 2008 at 1:29 pm

toby keith – let’s talk more about me – the sequel.

Mike Parker
October 27, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Good to know Snider’s got another album already in the bag. Hopefully they don’t hold it back too long. Good interview. Thanks.

TIna
October 27, 2008 at 1:54 pm

After a quote like that from Toby, I believe that does indeed make him a bad guy. Maybe God made him so big just to accomodate that ego of his.

Craig R.
October 27, 2008 at 3:27 pm

Toby Keith seems to think he is a real artist now-due to putting out his own recordings. But the truth of the matter is that his music went from ok to what-kind-crap-is-this? “She’s A Hottie” makes my insides hurt. The sad fact is that Keith really never was a singer-songwriter. He really is just a guy who sings and writes his own stuff. Few of his songs could be called personal unless you notice that the main theme of all of his songs is himself.
I used to wonder who his fan base was until a few months ago. I was in the country music section of Barnes and Noble. While I was looking a young man in work boots and a baseball cap- standard teenage wear-came over to the section, went directly to K, took out a Toby Keith cd and went to pay for it. I realized that Keith would appeal to a teenage boy- his music is self centered(although not all teenagers are self-centered) and if I was a young boy – trying hard to constantly reaffirm my masculinity- Keith would be just the singer for me. But that young man will grow up and get over being a boy- Toby Keith wants to stay a teenage boy forever- his ego and his music are proof of that fact.

Thomas
October 27, 2008 at 5:42 pm

craig r., i disagree entirely with your view, when it comes to toby keith’s ability to write songs. he’s been really good at that for a long time and his vocals are fine by me, too. fair enough, lately his output has been slightly below par and “she’s a hottie” was like a smack on the ears, but overall this artist’s output, even the controversial songs, are way above average. we may not be able to change anything about his ego, but just take a look at his early cd-covers and enjoy its deflationary effect.